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When you use a scanner to scan an image in preview mode in Microsoft Windows XP, the scan may be completed in final mode. As a result, when you try to preview a scan, it takes a while for the scanned image to display because instead of scanning the image in preview mode (typically fast), the scanner scans the image in the final scan mode (typically slower).

This issue occurs because the Windows XP operating system does not correctly set the flag that tells the scanner which mode to use. The Windows Image Acquisition (WIA) scanner micro driver is not called to do a preview scan because it cannot differentiate preview mode from final scan mode.

Hotfix information

A supported hotfix is available from Microsoft. However, this hotfix is intended to correct only the problem that is described in this article. Apply this hotfix only to systems that are experiencing this specific problem. This hotfix might receive additional testing. Therefore, if you are not severely affected by this problem, we recommend that you wait for the next software update that contains this hotfix.

If the hotfix is available for download, there is a "Hotfix download available" section at the top of this Knowledge Base article. If this section does not appear, contact Microsoft Customer Service and Support to obtain the hotfix.

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When you scan an image, the MicroEntry(..) function in a WIA micro driver is supposed to be called by the flatbed driver with the argument lCommand = CMD_SETSCANMODE to notify the micro driver that it wants a preview or a final scan.
But, regardless of whether you try to do a preview or a final scan, the MicroEntry(..) function is always called with the arguments lCommand = CMD_SETSCANMODE, and pValue->lVal = SCANMODE_FINALSCAN (final scan mode).
This problem occurs because the WIA scanning wizard sets the WIA_DPS_PREVIEW property on the driver item instead of the root item.
As a result, the BOOL CWIADevice::IsPreviewScan function always returns the value FALSE, and the scan is completed in final scan mode.

For additional information about WIA, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base: